Ceremony ushers in 885 new citizens

Updated 1:15 am, Wednesday, November 21, 2012

These are some of the 885 people who took the oath as citizens Tuesday.

These are some of the 885 people who took the oath as citizens Tuesday.

Photo: Lisa Krantz, San Antonio Express-News

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Isha Hussein, center, with her husband, Mohamed Abdi Barrow, stand during a Naturalization Ceremony for new U.S. citizens in Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University in San Antonio on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012. The couple came to the United States in 2004 as Somali Bantu refugees through the Refugee Resettlement Program.

Isha Hussein, center, with her husband, Mohamed Abdi Barrow, stand during a Naturalization Ceremony for new U.S. citizens in Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University in San Antonio on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012. The

Anna Vasquez, of Arlington, cries as her mother, Patricia Alonso, not pictured, is naturalized as a U.S. citizen in Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University in San Antonio on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012. Vasquez it took her mother 30 years to become a U.S. citizen.

Anna Vasquez, of Arlington, cries as her mother, Patricia Alonso, not pictured, is naturalized as a U.S. citizen in Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University in San Antonio on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012. Vasquez it

Mateo Morales, right, and Juana Morales, left, (no relation) celebrate their naturalization as U.S. citizens as the 323D Army Band "Ft. Sam's Own" plays "Stars and Stripes Forever" during the Naturalization Ceremony in Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University in San Antonio on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012.

Mateo Morales, right, and Juana Morales, left, (no relation) celebrate their naturalization as U.S. citizens as the 323D Army Band "Ft. Sam's Own" plays "Stars and Stripes Forever" during the Naturalization

New U.S. citizen Jose Estrada, right, stands during the Posting of the Colors during the Naturalization Ceremony for new U.S. citizens in Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University in San Antonio on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012.

New U.S. citizen Jose Estrada, right, stands during the Posting of the Colors during the Naturalization Ceremony for new U.S. citizens in Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University in San Antonio on Tuesday, Nov.

Saeedeh Aboodeh, who is originally from Iran, takes the Oath of Allegiance during a Naturalization Ceremony for new U.S. citizens in Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University in San Antonio on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012.

Saeedeh Aboodeh, who is originally from Iran, takes the Oath of Allegiance during a Naturalization Ceremony for new U.S. citizens in Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University in San Antonio on Tuesday, Nov. 20,

New U. S. citizens participate in their Naturalization Ceremony in Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University in San Antonio on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012.

New U. S. citizens participate in their Naturalization Ceremony in Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University in San Antonio on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012.

Photo: Lisa Krantz, San Antonio Express-News

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New U.S. citizen Mateo Morales participate in the Naturalization Ceremony for almost 900 new U.S. citizens in Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University in San Antonio on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012.

New U.S. citizen Mateo Morales participate in the Naturalization Ceremony for almost 900 new U.S. citizens in Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University in San Antonio on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012.

Photo: Lisa Krantz, San Antonio Express-News

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New U.S. citizen Su Chun, from South Korea, holds her daughter, Emily Chun, 2, who was born in the U.S., during the Naturalization Ceremony where almost 900 new U.S. Citizens, including Chun, were naturalized, in Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University in San Antonio on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012.

New U.S. citizen Su Chun, from South Korea, holds her daughter, Emily Chun, 2, who was born in the U.S., during the Naturalization Ceremony where almost 900 new U.S. Citizens, including Chun, were naturalized,

Marlon Ruiz, right, his wife, new U.S. citizen Lisette Ruiz, and their children, Lisette, 2, from left, Marlon, Jr., 8, and Angel, 6, pose for pictures after the Naturalization Ceremony for almost 900 new U.S. citizens, including Lisette, in Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University in San Antonio on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012. At left, new U.S. citizen Adelaide Mensah-Peprah, originally from Ghana, poses for her family to take a pictures of her as well.

Marlon Ruiz, right, his wife, new U.S. citizen Lisette Ruiz, and their children, Lisette, 2, from left, Marlon, Jr., 8, and Angel, 6, pose for pictures after the Naturalization Ceremony for almost 900 new U.S.

Lisette Ruiz, 2, stands with her family including her mother, also Lisette Ruiz, a new U.S. citizen who participated in the Naturalization Ceremony for almost 900 new U.S. citizens in Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University in San Antonio on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012.

Lisette Ruiz, 2, stands with her family including her mother, also Lisette Ruiz, a new U.S. citizen who participated in the Naturalization Ceremony for almost 900 new U.S. citizens in Laurie Auditorium at

Lisette Ruiz came to the United States from Nicaragua in the 1990s, joining her husband who escaped a war-ravaged country years before.

Lisette, 40, became a legal permanent resident in 2005. Marlon, also 40, earned his citizenship four years later.

On Tuesday, after 14 years in the country, Lisette became a U.S. citizen. She joined nearly 900 others in a massive ceremony at Laurie Auditorium on the Trinity University campus.

“It feels good to have the same rights as everybody,” Lisette Ruiz said. “We feel a part of this country.”

The couple live in San Antonio with their three U.S.-born children. Marlon works at the airport and Lisette is going to school. After years of transition, the couple knew they wanted to stay and worked to earn their citizenship.